I always loved the the art of the tattoo. However, there was a small difference. I never thought of getting one or two tattoos and then stop. I always wanted to get heavily tattooed, which is something that I still desire. I believe that this is the “stigma” that is missing from the human body, in order to be completed. Being a barber and a retro lover as well, I was looking at vintage barbers with their beautiful tattoos in magazines and I was thinking that I'd like to have such a look for myself too. The passage of time has shown how true that desire was...
Name: Giannis Papoulias
Profession: barber (Hairetics)
Residence: Athens
How many tattoos do you have?
16
Which artist(s) did your tattoos?
Savas tattoo, J / Medusa tattoo, Ozone / Nico tattoo.
Which tattoo is your first and which one was your latest?
The first was a cult one, a chaos star and the latest one is on my chest.
Which tattoo is your favourite and why?
My sleeve, because it is a symbol of the glamour of the decades 1920-1960.
Which tattoo artist do you admire?
There are too many. Globally speaking, Paul Booth. In Greece Ozone, Bettie, Doctor Pepper.
Which tattoo style do you like best?
Rockabilly, old school and I also like portrait tattoos.
Do you regret getting any of your tattoos, if so why?
No.
Have you done a tattoo cover up?
Yes, I covered up a sol key with my sleeve with “my girls” on it.
Have tattoos affected your life? If so, in what way?
Tattoos make me feel great, that's all! I hope that I will get totally covered on day!
Do you have an activity of yours that you would like to mention?
Except for being a freelance barber at Hairetics, tattoo, cinema, music and gigs.
Photos by Ino Mei.
